“Infectious Joy” was the theme for a conference in Boise, where I spoke five times one weekend.  I could hardly wait to see if the weekend would be filled with laughter or game hunting and me given my own rifle in the mountains.  However, much to my surprise, a funny thing happened at the airport.

Before meeting our hostess, I was surprised by a great encounter in the airport when getting off the plane in Boise. I held the arm of my husband as we walked to the baggage conveyor to secure our luggage. On the way, I suddenly let go of his arm and lagged behind as I heard sounds of different laughter in the distance. It made me laugh, and I was curious to know from where it came. Standing in front of the gift store in the airport, I looked around to find the source of such joy. Realizing I was not on his arm, my husband walked back briskly, half scolding me, saying, “What are you doing?”

I asked, “Where is all that laughter coming from?” He looked around and said, “Those are different animals who laugh randomly.” Still giggling, I said, “Tony. I must have one, especially since the convention is about infectious joy. I will find a way to use this delightful animal for one of my sessions.”

My husband knows that when I get an idea in my head I cannot be easily persuaded to move on without my wish being met. As Tony went to purchase the little dog that he thought to be the cutest, a woman passing by stopped to listen too. She asked, “What is all that laughter?” Chuckling, I replied, “It is coming from the gift store where a variety of animals are laughing randomly.” Together we both began to laugh and be entertained. She asked me several other questions about my new found discovery and then said, “How long have you been selling them?” Now I laughed even louder and said, “I am not the salesman but a passerby. I just got off the plane.”

Interestingly, we both had been on the same flight and were both in Boise to conduct a Christian conference in two different arenas. Soon, both of our husbands came to find their lost wives, but already we were friends chatting, as we exchanged stories and purposes. Immediately, there was a heart connection, and I knew I had just met a friend for life.

The four of us walked to our baggage, talking a mile a minute. Arriving at the door with our luggage now in hand, my new friend, Carol, and her husband, Daniel, spoke over us a passage from Psalm 84. In return, Tony and I spoke over our new friends the blessing out of Numbers 6:24-26. We hugged goodbye and wished each one well as we ministered that weekend.

It was a fantastic conference with laughter all three days. Packing up and heading back to the airport on a Monday afternoon, I was in for one more surprise. As I boarded the plane, I saw my new friend. We greeted each other and decided to switch seats once we were in the air, and we talked during the entire trip. We had so much fun deepening our new friendship, and we still stay in touch to this day. I not only found joy in Boise, but I also found a friend for life.

While going along life’s journey, don’t forget to stop and laugh. You might meet a friend along the way.

When you choose to look past the horizon… the sky is the limit!